Five Books Everyone Should Read is a feature we’re running in 2015. We’ve asked some of our favorite authors, readers and bloggers to share five books that touched them or have stayed with them throughout the years.
Today we have contemporary and historical paranormal author Kristen Callihan here to share her list of five books everyone should read. I adore her Darkest London series and last year Rowena and I both fell in love with her contemporary new adult Game On series, too.
When Holly asked me to do this post on five books I think everyone should read, I jumped on it. I mean, how fun would it be to sit and ponder the books that I love and what they mean to me?
Of course then it hit me: I’m terrible with lists. I love everything! And just five?!? How in the hell am I supposed to whittle it down to just five? Oh, the pressure. I die. Where to start? What to focus on?
Because I’m a romance author and I utterly love my genre, I chose to keep my list to romance. Not that this is easier but at least we have direction. So then… Five books I think everyone should read. Actually, this is probably more like five books that I love and have taught me about the art of writing exceptional romance stories.
So here they are, in no particular order…
Historical –THE RAVEN PRINCE, Elizabeth Hoyt.
Like a lot of romance readers, historical romance was my first love. Over the years, we’ve been hearing that historical romance is dying. I get that. Subgenres ebb and flow with their popularity and often need a fresh infusion of new stories to thrive. When I read The Raven Prince is was like a gust of fresh air in a stale room. And though the book is almost ten years old, in many ways it still is fresh. There’s nothing really typical about it.
First off, Edward, the hero is ugly—well not terribly, but he thinks his is and a lot of people around him do too. He’s big, scared by small box, and rough around the edges. Of course Anna, the heroine, finds him irresistibly sexy.
Being a big, beastie brute of a man, Edward isn’t all that pleasant to be around and he puts up a lot of walls. But there’s a mutual attraction that cannot be denied. What makes THE RAVE PRINCE so fun is that when Edward decides he’ll quell his lust for Anna by bedding a prostitute, Anna decides that she will sneak in and play the role. Poor grumbly Edward has no idea what he’s up against.
So we have a heroine who wants sex and goes for it, clandestine brothel shenanigans between a needy, confused hero and a woman who is finally claiming what she wants. And the sex? Scorching hot, deliciously dirty. Seriously, if you haven’t read and think you won’t like historicals, try this book.
Romantic Suspense BLAMED—Edie Harris
Romantic suspense is extremely hard to do well. You’re writing a mystery, a thriller, and a romance all in one. I have a bunch of favorites but I picked Blamed because it’s a lesser-known book and I just freaking loved it—as in holding my breath and swooning all at once.
BLAMED is the story of two spies/assassins on opposing sides who fall in love, are ripped apart by circumstance, then brought back together by fate. There’s a cinematic quality to this book, kind of like a good Bourne movie, it’s told through both flashbacks and present day mystery.
You have to pay attention when reading BLAMED. But then I think good romantic suspense demands your attention. You ought to be at the edge of your seat, trying to figure things out and wondering how it will end. BLAMED delivers that in spades. But even better? It’s extremely romantic. Our hero Vic loves the heroine Beth so much you can feel it on every page. For that alone it would make it a must read. And yet it’s so much more.
Erotica –ADDICTED, Charlotte Stein.
Where do you start with erotica? There’s so much goodness but it’s kind of hard to point to one thing because erotica is largely about what floats your boat. Stein has a huge body of work. I chose ADDICTED because it was my first read of hers.
Kit is an erotic writer who attends a sex addict support group because she wants research for her stories. Dillon, a sex addict, agrees to help her through…personal interaction.
The thing for me with Stein is that her writing is kind of like falling into a fever dream. It’s utterly fascinating to read. Her heroines are awkward, unsure, bumbling and often afraid. Her heroes are big, awkward, unsure…Get the picture? And yet, when these characters come together, everything just clicks and you’re treated to hot, dirty, sometimes painfully real sex blended with a tender romance.
Contemporary Romance—SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, Julie James.
Banter is a word I’ve seen volleyed about a lot lately. Only to be disappointed when I read a book recommended for its banter and discover it’s just two people insulting each other. The thing with banter is that it’s really a dual conversation hidden behind witty repartee. Oh, there might be insults flung but, beneath it all, there’s a totally different dialogue going on. As in: I like you; do you like me? I’m pretty sure we need to have sex, and sooner than later if I have my way. OR (between friends) I got your back, you okay? Good, you totally got this.
Julie James gives good banter. Excellent banter. Reading one of her books is like watching an intense tennis match. It often reminds me of those wonderful classic movies where it’s all about the dialogue and falling in love with two sharp characters who were clearly made for each other. Like the Stein rec, I chose SOMETHING ABOUT YOU because it was my first James book, and you always love your first.
SOMETHING ABOUT YOU is the story of Assistant US Attorney Cameron Lynde witnessing a murder and being forced to work with Jack Pallas, an FBI agent who blames her for almost running his career years ago. On the surface, it sounds like a romantic suspense, but really this is more of a contemporary romance in my mind. Because it’s all about the characters. And, yes, the banter. Not just between Jack and Cameron but between Jack and his partner. In truth, every word is a delight to read. So if you want to discover truly great word play, pick up a James novel.
New Adult/Contemporary—BEAUTIFUL PLAYER, Christina Lauren
I love this book. Really, I just do. This is a bit of unrequited childhood love meets friends to lovers story. It’s hot, sweet, and so bloody well done, I could read it again and again. I want to tuck this book in my pillow and take it with me to a desert island.
Christina Lauren, which is really the writing duo of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, are masters at blending humor, friendship, sexual tension and intensely sexy scenes.
BEAUTIFUL PLAYER is the story of Will, sexy nerd, lover of women, and totally hot best friend to Hannah’s older brother. Hannah is a nerd as well and needs to get out more. Will agrees to take Hannah under his wing and they become fast friends. The thing is Will never hides that he finds Hannah hot but he never forces himself on her either. He truly is her best friend, even though he begins to realize he wants much more. Hannah wants Will too but she’s inexperienced and bungles things badly.
They start up a casual friends with benefits relationship that is hot but not really what either them really want. What sets this book apart from most friends to lovers stories is the wonderful way Hobbs and Billings handle it. It’s achingly clear that Will and Hannah adore each other and you want nothing more than to seem them find their happily ever after.
So there they are, my 5 Books Everyone Should Read. I’m itching to give lists upon lists now because there are so many great books out there. But hopefully this is a good start, and hopefully someone will read one of these and fall in love with a book today.
About Kristen:
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee, and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
Check out Kristen’s latest releases:
So… I loved the “Game On” Books – HARD – and I already dug Christina Lauren and Julie James, so I picked up “Addicted” and put the others on my Wish List. I was quite pleased! “Addicted” was just about the perfect mix of adorable and super sexy on a stick. I can’t wait to try the other two books!